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counterattacks

noun

variants or counter-attacks
plural of counterattack
as in attacks
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterattacks Varas acknowledged after the Philadelphia loss that San Diego has struggled with turnovers and its positioning when trying to prevent counterattacks. — Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026 Ukrainian counterattacks against Russian refineries have also sparked fuel shortages. — Victoria Hoffmann, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 Coaches around the league rave about Spagnuolo’s ability to enter a game with a plan and then build counterattacks from there. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 For example, Way of the Sword rewards defensive play in the form of Issen, powerful counterattacks that are triggered by attacking before an enemy strikes. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 Capcom is emphasizing deliberate blade-on-blade combat, with precise parries, directional deflects, Issen counterattacks, Reflex Combos, Oni Armaments, Oni Strength, Oni Agility, soul absorption, environmental attacks and dynamic dismemberment. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Oil prices jumped Monday morning as the latest cycle of attacks and counterattacks renewed fears of further disruption to flows through the Strait of Hormuz. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Morocco had more talent than Paraguay, more menacing technique and tactics, and, presumably, could mount more dangerous counterattacks. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026 Under coach Sergej Barbarez, a former professional poker player, the gritty Bosnians rarely gamble, instead playing a disciplined and physical style that emphasizes compactness and swift counterattacks. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattacks
  1. attacks
  2. counteroffensives
  3. assaults
  4. counterstrikes
Noun
  • Zelenskyy said Ukrainian special forces struck the Kuibyshev oil refinery in Samara, southeast of Moscow, and another refinery in the neighboring Bashkortostan region in overnight attacks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • In the days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, makeshift memorials started to appear around the perimeter of Ground Zero and at sites around the world associated with the United States.
    — Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of attacks
Noun
  • The campaign has put pressure on Russian logistics in Crimea, giving Ukrainian forces a degree of battlefield momentum that Kyiv has not enjoyed since its successful counteroffensives around Kherson and Kharkiv in late 2022.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But some officials believe Kyiv could have negotiated a peace agreement in mid-2022 if Washington had pushed its ally harder to engage in negotiations after the success of its Kherson and Kharkiv counteroffensives.
    — Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of counteroffensives
Noun
  • Felony assaults in the park are down 15%, with only 12 compared to 14 in 2025.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The assaults and robberies happened between February and October 2022.
    — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of assaults
Noun
  • The ministry plans to use attack drones in coordination with long-range missiles for more cost-effective counterstrikes.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Dozens of Iranians have died since the last bout of strikes and counterstrikes began, and thousands since February.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of counterstrikes

Browse Nearby Words

counterattackers
counterattacks
counterbalance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterattacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattacks. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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